In early 2018 the difficult decision was made to leave the Sweet House and our last day there was April 30, 2018. Sorting files, moving equipment, and untangling our finances was a HUGE job. Restructuring the Board and committees brought clarity out of chaos. The Articles of Incorporation, Standing Rules and our Bylaws have been revised to reflect who we are now. Accounts have been set up for designated funds and members are showing their support by generously donating to them. Miss Kitty graces our table at Thursday Programs and gratefully accepts our money to help with miscellaneous expenses. Great articles have been written about us in the GR Business Journal and GR Mag online. We have a Facebook page and a new website.

We became WOMEN ON THE MOVE and our first event out in the community was a Mother’s Day Brunch at the Wheelhouse. A Royal Tea was held at the Plaza Tower Condos. We secured Kent Country Club for our Thursday Enrichment Programs and had the May 2018 Annual Meeting there. Programs on nature photography, music as therapy, Paleolithic Art, literacy initiatives, mindfulness, Qatar, Kid’s Food Basket and MORE have enriched our lives. Beacon Hill has been a great location for Board meetings and will be the venue for our January Thursday Programs.

Tours to the Meyer May House, Meijer Gardens, Fountain Street Church, and Hemingway’s Michigan up north kept us on the move. Roundtable discussions, protocols for events, buttons with bling, a Bulletin printed in color, and a new Directory with members’ photos are more of our innovations.

East Congregational Church is our home on Tuesdays. Committee meetings, Mah Jongg, classes, book exchanges and $2 Bucks Tuesday Coffees are held there. We established Tuesday Social Time (TST) to meet once a month at local restaurants from 4-6 pm. Cork at Watermark, Zeytin, Charley’s Crab and Rose’s Restaurant have been welcoming and accommodating.

We have Let’s Do Lunch and Let’s Do Dinner periodically at restaurants around town. Our fabulously festive Evergreen Gala was held at Thousand Oaks this December. The Outreach Committee has projects that allow us to give back to the community.

All of this and more in only EIGHT MONTHS! We are extremely grateful for YOU, our members, for your faith, commitment, and friendship. The future is bright for the Women’s City Club!